Multicast/broadcast service to radio access networks with core networks

Abstract

Multicast and/or broadcast service may be provided to one or more radio access networks, such as using one or more multicast broadcast gateways and/or one or more nodes, such as coordination function nodes. A multicast broadcast gateway may be connected to a node via a control plane interface. The node may be associated with a base station configured to provide one or more of multicast transmissions or broadcast transmissions to user devices from a broadcast multicast core network. The multicast broadcast gateway may also be connected to the base station via a user plane interface. The multicast broadcast gateway may send, to the node and via the control plane interface, one or more control signals. The multicast broadcast gateway may send, to the base station and via the user plane interface, one or more user signals. The multicast broadcast gateway and/or node may be used to setup, update, and/or stop multicast and/or broadcast sessions.

1 .- 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing machine-readable instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
 connect the apparatus to a node via a control plane interface, wherein the node is associated with a base station configured to provide one or more of multicast transmissions or broadcast transmissions to user devices from a broadcast multicast core network; 
 connect the apparatus to the base station via a user plane interface; 
 send, to the node and via the control plane interface, one or more control signals; and 
 send, to the base station and via the user plane interface, one or more user signals. 
   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the memory stores machine-readable instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
 receive, from a broadcast multicast service center of the broadcast multicast core network, a request to initiate a broadcast multicast session, wherein the request comprises a plurality of session attributes; and   store the plurality of session attributes,   wherein sending the one or more control signals comprises sending, to the node and via the control plane interface, one or more of the plurality of session attributes.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of session attributes comprises two or more of an access indicator, a service area, quality of service (QoS) information, a session duration, a session identifier, or a mobile group identity. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the memory stores machine-readable instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
 receive, from the broadcast multicast service center of the broadcast multicast core network, a request to update the broadcast multicast session, wherein the request to update comprises a second plurality of session attributes; and   store the second plurality of session attributes,   wherein sending the one or more control signals comprises sending, to the node and via the control plane interface, one or more of the second plurality of session attributes.   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the memory stores machine-readable instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
 receive, from the broadcast multicast service center of the broadcast multicast core network, a request to stop the broadcast multicast session,   wherein sending the one or more control signals comprises forwarding, to the node and via the control plane interface, the request to stop the broadcast multicast session.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the apparatus comprises a management entity, wherein the node comprises a coordination entity, wherein connecting the apparatus to the node comprises connecting the management entity to the coordination entity, and wherein sending the one or more control signals comprises sending, by the management entity and to the coordination entity, the one or more control signals. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the memory stores machine-readable instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
 before connecting the apparatus to the node via the control plane interface, send, to the node and via a virtual interface, a request to set up the control plane interface between the apparatus and the node; and   receive, from the node and via the virtual interface, a response indicating setup of the control plane interface between the apparatus and the node.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus  claim 24 , wherein the node comprises a management entity and a coordination entity, wherein connecting the apparatus to the node comprises connecting the apparatus to the management entity, and wherein sending the one or more control signals comprises sending, to the management entity, the one or more control signals. 
     
     
         32 . A method comprising:
 connecting a multicast broadcast gateway to a node via a control plane interface, wherein the node is associated with a base station configured to provide one or more of multicast transmissions or broadcast transmissions to user devices from a broadcast multicast core network;   connecting the multicast broadcast gateway to the base station via a user plane interface;   sending, by the multicast broadcast gateway, to the node, and via the control plane interface, one or more control signals; and   sending, by the multicast broadcast gateway, to the base station, and via the user plane interface, one or more user signals.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the multicast broadcast gateway and from a broadcast multicast service center of the broadcast multicast core network, a request to initiate a broadcast multicast session, wherein the request comprises a plurality of session attributes; and   storing the plurality of session attributes,   wherein sending the one or more control signals comprises sending, to the node and via the control plane interface, one or more of the plurality of session attributes.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the plurality of session attributes comprise two or more of an access indicator, a service area, quality of service (QoS) information, a session duration, a session identifier, or a mobile group identity. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the multicast broadcast gateway and from the broadcast multicast service center of the broadcast multicast core network, a request to update the broadcast multicast session, wherein the request to update comprises a second plurality of session attributes; and   storing the second plurality of session attributes,   wherein sending the one or more control signals comprises sending, to the node and via the control plane interface, one or more of the second plurality of session attributes.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the multicast broadcast gateway and from the broadcast multicast service center of the broadcast multicast core network, a request to stop the broadcast multicast session,   wherein sending the one or more control signals comprises forwarding, to the node and via the control plane interface, the request to stop the broadcast multicast session.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the multicast broadcast gateway comprises a management entity, wherein the node comprises a coordination entity, wherein connecting the multicast broadcast gateway to the node comprises connecting the management entity to the coordination entity, and wherein sending the one or more control signals comprises sending, by the management entity and to the coordination entity, the one or more control signals. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 before connecting the multicast broadcast gateway to the node via the control plane interface, sending, by the multicast broadcast gateway, to the node, and via a virtual interface, a request to set up the control plane interface between the multicast broadcast gateway and the node; and   receiving, by the multicast broadcast gateway, from the node, and via the virtual interface, a response indicating setup of the control plane interface between the multicast broadcast gateway and the node.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the node comprises a management entity and a coordination entity, wherein connecting the multicast broadcast gateway to the node comprises connecting the multicast broadcast gateway to the management entity, and wherein sending the one or more control signals comprises sending, to the management entity, the one or more control signals. 
     
     
         40 . An apparatus comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory storing machine-readable instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
 connect the apparatus to a first node in a multicast/broadcast core network via a control plane interface and a user plane interface; 
 connect the apparatus to a second node in a unicast core network via a second control plane interface; 
 connect the apparatus to a third node in the unicast core network via a second user plane interface; 
 receive, from the first node and via the control plane interface, one or more control signals for multicast/broadcast management; and 
 receive, from the first node and via the user plane interface, one or more user signals. 
   
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein receiving the one or more control signals comprises receiving one or more of a plurality of session attributes associated with a multicast/broadcast session. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the plurality of session attributes comprise two or more of an access indicator, a service area, quality of service (QoS) information, a session duration, a session identifier, or a mobile group identity.